Dallas Cowboys Blog

Why Miles Austin’s contract doesn’t hurt Cowboys

The Miles Austin contract has been filed with the league and like Stephen Jones said it’s a straight deal with no signing bonuses, roster bonuses, option bonuses or incentives. The total of the seven-year deal is $57.268 million. Take away the $3.168 million Austin was set to earn this year, and it’s a $54.1 million extension over six years. And $18 million is guaranteed.

It definitely takes advantage of the uncapped season in 2010 with a $17,078,000 in 2010. There is deferred money involved and Austin will take home $10 million this year with some cash being deferred through 2012.

Should/when a salary cap comes back next year, the Cowboys would be in position to easily lower Austin’s cap figure by turning as much as $7 million of that $8.54 million base salary into signing bonus. Just something to think about should/when a cap returns and the Cowboys need space to sign new players or fit everybody under the new system.